Ecdysteroid hormones and metabolites of the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria

The Y-organs of the xanthid crab Menippe mercenaria secrete the ecdysteroids, 3-dehydroecdysone (3DE) and lesser amounts of 3-dehydro (or 2-dehydro)-25-deoxyecdysone (3D25dE) in vitro. These ecdysteroids were identified by elution-time comparisons with authentic standards, mass spectrography, and, for 3D25dE, infrared spectrometry. Tissues were incubated 18 hr with [(3)H]3DE. Activities representing 3beta-reductase and 20-hydroxylase generally were present, evidenced by finding in the tissue/medium extract labeled ecdysone (E) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Labeled 3-dehydro-20-hydroxyecdysone (3D20E) also appeared to be present. Tissue blanks and hemolymph were devoid of activity. Muscle was low, hypodermis was intermediate, and hindgut and gonads were high in activity of the enzymes. Consistent with the presence of these enzymes in peripheral tissues, ecdysteroid products identified in the hemolymph were 20E, 3D20E, and 25-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone (25d20E; ponasterone A). Structures of 20E and 3D20E were confirmed by co-elution with authentic standards in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), co-elution of derivatives in gas chromatography, and mass spectroscopy. Ponasterone A (identified by HPLC co-elution with the standard), like 20E is present in the hemolymph in prominent amounts. These data indicate that Menippe, among crustaceans thus far studied, secretes a unique combination of ecdysteroid hormones, namely, a 3- (or 2-) oxo compound and a 25-deoxy compound. This represents a different kind of branch point from 5beta-diketol in ecdysteroid biosynthesis, in which the intermediate, 5beta-ketodiol is bypassed. A result is the joint appearance in the circulation of the hormones, 20E and ponasterone A, which in other species are singly prominent.     

Entomogenous fungus Nomuraea rileyi inhibits host insect molting by C22-oxidizing inactivation of hemolymph ecdysteroids

The entomogenous fungus Nomuraea rileyi reportedly secretes a proteinaceous substance inhibiting larval molt and metamorphosis in the silkworm Bombyx mori. We studied the possibility that N. rileyi controls B. mori development by inactivating hemolymph molting hormone, ecdysteroids. Incubation of ecdysone (E) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in fungal-conditioned medium resulted in their rapid modification into products with longer retention times in reverse-phase HPLC. Each modified product from E and 20E was purified by HPLC, and identified by NMR as 22-dehydroecdysone and 22-dehydro-20-hydroxyecdysone. Some other ecdysteroids with a hydroxyl group at position C22 were also modified. Injection of the fungal-conditioned medium into Bombyx mori larvae in the mid-4th instar inhibited larval molt but induced precocious pupal metamorphosis, and its injection into 5th instar larvae just after gut purge blocked pupal metamorphosis. In hemolymph of injected larvae, E and 20E disappeared and, in turn, 22-dehydroecdysone and 22-dehydro-20-hydroxyecdysone accumulated. These results indicate that N. rileyi secretes a specific enzyme that oxidizes the hydroxyl group at position C22 of hemolymph ecdysteroids and prevents molting in B. mori larvae.     

对粉纹夜蛾高毒力cry9Eα基因的克隆及表达

[目的]从本实验室分离的Bt4菌株中克隆cry9Eα基因,并研究其表达和杀虫活性.[方法]以PCR-RFLP方法鉴定Bt4菌株含有cry9基因,然后以菌株Bt4的质粒为模板,利用全长引物F9EA/R9EA进行PCR扩增全长基因.[结果]将目的片段插入到表达载体pET21b,得到大肠杆菌重组表达质粒pETcrygEa.转化E.coli BL21(DE3),诱导后表达130 kDa的蛋白,再将cry9Eα7基因连接到穿梭载体pSXY422b,电激转化HD73-(cry-),得到工程菌BioHD9Ea7,提取Cry9Ea7晶体蛋白,并进行生物活性测定.生物活性测定结果显示CrygEa7蛋白对粉纹夜蛾(Trichoplusia ni)初孵幼虫具有高毒力,LC_(50)为0.044 μg/mL,而对甜菜夜蛾(Spodoptera exigua)和棉铃虫(Helicoverpa armigera)初孵幼虫未显示活性.[结论]克隆和表达了一个对粉纹夜蛾高毒力的基因cry9Eα7,并成功构建了工程菌BioHD9Ea7.     

Overexpression of the alanine carrier protein gene from thermophilic bacterium PS3 in Escherichia coli

The alanine transporter (alanine carrier protein, ACP) gene of thermophilic bacterium PS3 was previously cloned and expressed in a functionally active form in Escherichia coli cells. To achieve controlled overproduction of the ACP protein, we designed a plasmid encoding a fusion protein comprising ACP joined to the carboxyl terminus of the maltose binding protein (MBP-ACP). Upon transduction of the plasmid into E. coli RM1 cells defective in alanine/glycine transport, the transport activity was expressed even before induction with 1-thio-beta-D-galacto-pyranoside (IPTG), and increased slightly on induction with IPTG at low concentrations. However, overexpression of the MBP-ACP gene, induced by higher concentrations of IPTG, resulted in death of the host cells. Hence we screened other host cells and found that the MBP-ACP fusion protein was produced in a large quantity in E. coli TB1 cells 3 h after IPTG induction. The MBP-ACP fusion protein was accumulated in cytoplasmic membranes in an amount reaching more than 20% of the total membrane protein. The affinity-purified MBP-ACP exhibited very low transport activity when reconstituted into proteoliposomes.     

肠球菌肽脱甲酰基酶在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中高效表达及其活性检测

肽脱甲酰基酶 (peptidedeformylase ,PDF)存在于所有原核生物中是其生长、代谢、繁殖必不可少的关键酶 ,但不存在于人类与其他哺乳动物细胞内 ,因而被视为新一代广谱抗生素药物筛选的理想靶点。将肠球菌 (Enterococcusfaecium)肽脱甲酰基酶基因连接到高效蛋白表达载体pET 30 A( )中 ,并转入宿主大肠杆菌BL2 1 (DE3)中进行诱导表达。在该基因的诱导表达中 ,采用不同表达条件进行诱导表达 ,最终获得表达效率极高且可溶的肽脱甲酰基酶。从宿主细胞中提取分离该酶 ,并进行酶活性检测 ,诱导表达的肽脱甲酰基酶有很高的酶活性     

鹅β-防御素3基因的分离、鉴定及其表达产物的生物学特性

为了克隆鹅β-防御素(AvBD)3基因,并在原核表达重组鹅AvBD3蛋白,进一步研究鹅AvBD3蛋白的生物学特性,利用RT-PCR方法从鹅脾脏和法氏囊组织中扩增到鹅AvBD3基因片段,其cDNA片段大小为182 bp,编码60个氨基酸残基.经同源性分析发现鹅AvBD3氨基酸序列与鸡AvBD3氨基酸序列同源性最高,为100％.将该基因亚克隆到原核表达载体pGEX-6p-1的BamH Ⅰ和SalⅠ双酶切位点上,构建重组表达质粒pGEX-goose AvBD3.将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21,于37℃用IPTG诱导表达,SDS-PAGE电泳表明,重组鹅AvBD3蛋白在原核高效表达(分子量约31 kDa).该重组蛋白经纯化后测定其体外抗菌活性与理化特性,结果显示,重组鹅AvBD3蛋白具有广谱的抗菌活性,对12种细菌,包括革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌均具有抑菌作用.高盐离子浓度显著降低重组鹅AvBD3蛋白的抗菌活性.此外,该重组蛋白的溶血活性极低,并对酸碱度具有较高的稳定性.     

Stereospecific production of the herbicide phosphinothricin (glufosinate) by transamination: cloning, characterization, and overexpression of the gene encoding a phosphinothricin-specific transaminase from Escherichia coli

We have cloned the gene encoding a 43-kilodalton transaminase from Escherichia coli K-12 with a specificity for L-phosphinothricin [L-homoalanine-4-yl-(methyl)phosphinic acid], the active ingredient of the herbicide Basta (Hoechst AG). The structural gene was isolated, together with its own promoter, and shown to be localized on a 1.6-kilobase DraI-BamHI fragment. The gene is subject to catabolite repression by glucose; however, repression could be relieved completely when 4-aminobutyrate (GABA) served as the sole nitrogen source. The regulation pattern obtained and a comparison of the restriction map of the initially cloned 15-kilobase SalI fragment with the physical map of the E. coli K-12 genome suggest that the cloned gene is identical with gabT, a locus on the gab gene cluster of E. coli K-12 which codes for the GABA:2-ketoglutartate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.19). A number of expression plasmids carrying the isolated transaminase gene were constructed. With these constructs, the transaminase expression in transformants of E. coli could be increased up to 80-fold compared with that in a wild-type control, and the transaminase constituted up to 20% of the total soluble protein of the bacteria. Thus, the protein crude extracts of the transformants could be used, after a simple heat precipitation step, for the biotechnological production of L-phosphinothricin in an enzyme reactor.     

Stereospecific production of the herbicide phosphinothricin (glufosinate) by transamination: cloning, characterization, and overexpression of the gene encoding a phosphinothricin-specific transaminase from Escherichia coli.

We have cloned the gene encoding a 43-kilodalton transaminase from Escherichia coli K-12 with a specificity for L-phosphinothricin [L-homoalanine-4-yl-(methyl)phosphinic acid], the active ingredient of the herbicide Basta (Hoechst AG). The structural gene was isolated, together with its own promoter, and shown to be localized on a 1.6-kilobase DraI-BamHI fragment. The gene is subject to catabolite repression by glucose; however, repression could be relieved completely when 4-aminobutyrate (GABA) served as the sole nitrogen source. The regulation pattern obtained and a comparison of the restriction map of the initially cloned 15-kilobase SalI fragment with the physical map of the E. coli K-12 genome suggest that the cloned gene is identical with gabT, a locus on the gab gene cluster of E. coli K-12 which codes for the GABA:2-ketoglutartate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.19). A number of expression plasmids carrying the isolated transaminase gene were constructed. With these constructs, the transaminase expression in transformants of E. coli could be increased up to 80-fold compared with that in a wild-type control, and the transaminase constituted up to 20% of the total soluble protein of the bacteria. Thus, the protein crude extracts of the transformants could be used, after a simple heat precipitation step, for the biotechnological production of L-phosphinothricin in an enzyme reactor.     

对粉纹夜蛾高毒力cry9Ea基因的克隆及表达

【目的】从本实验室分离的Bt4菌株中克隆cry9Ea基因,并研究其表达和杀虫活性。【方法】以PCR-RFLP方法鉴定Bt4菌株含有cry9基因,然后以菌株Bt4的质粒为模板,利用全长引物F9EA/R9EA进行PCR扩增全长基因。【结果】将目的片段插入到表达载体pET21b,得到大肠杆菌重组表达质粒pETcry9Ea。转化E.coli BL21(DE3),诱导后表达130kDa的蛋白,再将cry9Ea7基因连接到穿梭载体pSXY422b,电激转化HD73-(cry-),得到工程菌BioHD9Ea7,提取Cry9Ea7晶体蛋白,并进行生物活性测定。生物活性测定结果显示Cry9Ea7蛋白对粉纹夜蛾(Trichoplusia ni)初孵幼虫具有高毒力,LC50为0.044μg/mL,而对甜菜夜蛾(Spodoptera exigua)和棉铃虫(Helicoverpa armigera)初孵幼虫未显示活性。【结论】克隆和表达了一个对粉纹夜蛾高毒力的基因cry9Ea7,并成功构建了工程菌BioHD9Ea7。     

流行性乙型脑炎病毒E基因的克隆、表达及初步应用

参照GenBank中的日本乙型脑炎病毒(Japanese encephalitis virus,JEV)SA14-14株序列设计了一对特异性引物,用PCR方法从SA14-14扩增E基因全长,然后克隆到pMD18-T载体中,转化宿主菌DH5a,提取阳性克隆质粒进行双酶切鉴定,将目的片段定向克隆到pET32a( )中,转化入BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导可表达分子量约73ka的蛋白,Western blotting试验呈阳性,表明E基因得到表达。以纯化的表达产物为核心抗原,猪抗JEV血清为一抗,HRP标记羊抗猪IgG抗体为二抗建立间接ELISA方法,并初步检测了一些血清样品,结果提示表达的蛋白具有很好的应用开发价值。     

IGFBP-3高效可溶表达、纯化及生物学活性初步研究

克隆胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白3(IGFBP-3)的cDNA片段,构建原核表达载体pET-DsBA-IGFBP3。将该重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)plysS中,诱导表达IGFBP-3融合蛋白(简称D-IGFBP3)。经检测融合蛋白主要以可溶形式表达。表达产物用His亲和层析柱纯化,获得了纯度超过95%的重组IGFBP-3融合蛋白。Western-blot结果表明在相应分子量处有一条特异性条带。细胞活性研究显示它对MCF-7细胞生长具有一定的抑制作用,且在体外具有与IGF-I结合的活性。     

Conversion of 3-dehydroecdysone by a ketoreductase in post-diapause, pre-hatch eggs of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar

The prothoracic glands (PGs) of Lymantria dispar (day-5 female, last-stage larvae) produce both ecdysone and an ecdysteroid which has the same retention time on reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) as a known standard of 3-dehydroecdysone. The latter ecdysteroid can be converted by a heat-labile factor in extracts of post-diapause, pre-hatch L. dispar eggs to an ecdysteroid which has the same retention time on RPLC as ecdysone. Purified 3-dehydroecdysone, similarly treated with egg extract, also gives the same retention time on RPLC as ecdysone. Taken together, these data suggest that, like Manduca sexta, a major product of the PGs in L. dispar is 3-dehydroecdysone. Furthermore, these data suggest that L. dispar eggs, which contain mature embryos, possess ecdysteroid ketoreductase activity capable of converting 3-dehydroecdysone to ecdysone. This is the first report of ecdysteroid ketoreductase activity in embryonated eggs.     

口蹄疫病毒3A基因在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

将口蹄疫病毒(Foot\|and\|Mouth Disease Virus,FMDV)的3A基因克隆到线形化的原核表达载体pProEX\|HTb中,转化大肠杆菌BL21和DH5α,经氨苄抗性筛选得到阳性克隆,IPTG诱导表达。SDSPAGE和West bolt结果证实大肠杆菌菌体不可溶性蛋白中富含3A蛋白,说明3A蛋白在表达产物中以包涵体的形式存在,所表达的蛋白含量占菌体蛋白的29.2%。     

3α-羟类固醇脱氢酶基因的质粒载体构建和表达

目的 实现3α-羟类固醇脱氢酶基因在大肠埃希菌中的高可溶性表达.方法 从土壤中分离睾丸酮丛毛单胞菌,提取其基因组DNA,PCR扩增3α-羟类固醇脱氢酶(3α-HSD)基因,将它克隆到原核表达载体上进行诱导表达.提取细菌总蛋白进行SDS-PAGE分析并测定酶活性.结果 经核苷酸序列测定和酶切鉴定结果表明,成功地构建了重组质粒,IPTG诱导表达后,获得融合蛋白,SDS-PAGE初步测定目的蛋白的相对分子量约为29kDa,与预期理论值一致;酶活性测定结果表明菌体可溶性总蛋白HSD酶比活性为142.81 U/mg,是对照BL21的12.97倍.结论 该研究成功地构建了3α-羟类固醇脱氢酶基因高效原核表达系统,为利用基因工程手段大量制备3α-HSD的工作奠定了基础.     

Aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase gene: its cloning, characteristics and use as a molecular probe

Aminoglycoside resistance genes were cloned from transconjugates of aminoglycoside resistant clinical strains of gramnegative bacteria. The resistance determinant cloned from the strains of E. coli transferred kanamycin, monomycin and neomycin resistance to laboratory strains. It was shown that the cloned resistance gene encoded the type I 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase. The results of spot and blot hybridization of the gramnegative bacteria clinical strains with the Bam HI-Pst I fragment of the cloned resistance determinant were indicative of wide-spread distribution of the APH 3' (I) and closely related genes in clinical microbial populations.